Orientation Trip
WILDERNESS
I had never participated in any wilderness hiking trip before. In learning that I would be having a mandatory trip into the woods of New Mexico merely 2 weeks prior, I began panicking. The school, the people, the country – everything – was still new to me and I have not had the time to yet fully adjust myself. Stepping out of the blue bus onto the rocky path, I had no idea what to expect for the next 3 days.
The hike was tough – as expected. I already was not an athletic person, though now on top of that was the rocky paths, Montezuman high altitude, and 3 days' worth of food pressing down on my back. I struggled in keeping up the pace with the group.
However, this did not last for long. After a few hours, I got used to the weight and learned to exercise my strengths in a more suitable way. I also began socializing to the group as a way to distract myself from thinking about the passing time. The second year leaders told me about their background and their wilderness experiences, those of which provided me with a better understanding of the trip and what I should prepare myself for.
As I got to know the group, we began working together more and more throughout the hike. We used a system of codes, such as red light, yellow light, and green light, to signify if any of us needed a break, whether it is for water, snacks, or view. This way, we got to know each other's needs which allowed us to make faster progress. I also tried keeping the conversation going to help others who also struggled with the hike like me. Eventually, the small talks turned into a full riddle game which each of us racking our brains trying to find the answers. Without realizing the amount of time that had passed, we soon reached an ideal location for camping. With some people who were more experienced than others, we all worked collaboratively throughout the process: setting up tents, searching for water source, cooking, cleaning, and more.
While everything seemed to be working fine, another challenge came up to us. It started pouring in the evening with the rains and winds getting stronger and stronger. In the middle of the night, I was woken up by our second year leaders to get into the lightning position – squatting low on the ground – to prevent ourselves from getting struck by the lightning. What felt like hours had passed and the storm did not seem like it was stopping soon. To relieve ourselves of the fear and panic, my friends and I began playing a small clapping game which we adapted to different languages to also learn about each other's cultures. The game continued on with us in the lighting position until the rain faltered and we all went back to sleep.
In light of the increasing challenges which I never before thought I would be faced with, I also managed to come up with more creative solutions to tackle them. I also became more reflective as I got to surround myself with nature. Wilderness was a totally different experience than what I imagined before and I was glad I had the opportunity to spend my 3 days with the group and our second year leaders.
